johnson



No; 624,8l8. Patented May 9, I899.

M. H. JOHNSON.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 8, .1898.) (No Model) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 624,8l8. Patented May 9, I899.

M; H. JOHNSON.

VUTING MACHINE.

(Application filed 58131;. 6, 1898.)

5 Sheetv-Shoa} 3.

(No Modal.)

| :"rcas cc. rncm mwov wAsnmcToN u c No. 624,8I8. v Patented May 9,I899. M. H. JOHNSON.

VOTING MACHINE. (Application filed Sept. 0, 189B.)

5 Shaets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

. W/ZWM. QM

Patented May 9, I899.

No. e24,a|a.

M. H. JOHNSON. VOTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 6, 189B.)

5 Sheeta-$heet 5.

(No Model.)

no %/u m/ ia/61252 .llltllllllll lllrl i |I|| UNITED, STATES PATENTOFFICE.

MARQUIS H. JOHNSON, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF, TO JAMES,OAMPSALL, on SAME PLACE.

VOTING-MACHINE:

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 6. 624,818, dated May9,1899.

Application filed September 6,1898. Serial No. 690.257. No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARQUIS H. JOHNSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Buf-' tors and which actuatethe registering devices through intermediate.mechanism. l The object ofmy invention is the provision of a comparatively simple, compact, andreliable machine of'this character. by which the elector can at hisoption vote either a straight party-ticket, a split or mixed ticket,

or for persons not nominated on party-tickets; the machine being soorganized as to defeat any attempt to repeat or vote more than once foranycandidate or for more than one candidate for the same otiice.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of five sheets, Figure l is aperspective View of my improved voting-machine shown in connection witha booth or compartment and the door-operated means for resetting the ma-3o chine to its normal condition after being used by a voter. Figs. 2,3, and 4 are vertical longitudinal sections of the machine in lines 2 2,3 3, and 4 4, Fig. 5, respectively. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectionthereof in line 5 5, Fig. 5 2. 'Fig. 6 is afragmentary horizontalsection similar to Fig. 5, showing the position of the locking deviceswhen a split-ticket key is pushed. Fig. 7 isv a similar view showing theposition of said parts when a straight-ticket key is operated. Fig. 8 isa transverse vertical section showing the position of said parts whenall the keys are'locked'. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectioncorresponding to Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal 5 sectionin line 10 10, Fig. 2, showing one of the retaining-s'prings'of thekey-levers. Fig. ,11 is .a horizontal section of the machine in line 11-11,Fig. 2, showing thedevices for re cording votes for candidates notnamed on and the-other for the exit of voters.

ing its rear portion 'Bconstrncted somewhat dinal section in line. 1212, Fig. 1, showing the position of the partswhen a drum-shutter isclosed. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 12, showing theposition of the parts when ashutter is open. Fig. 14 is'a fragmentarysectional elevation of a line of keys, showing. the means of locking thesame. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical lon-' gitudinal section, on anenlarged scale, of the devices forfpreventing the actuation of more thanone key-of agroup at a timeand showing the parts in theiignormalposition. Fig.16 is a similar viewshowingthe position of the parts whenone of "the keys of a groupis depressed. Figs. 17and 18 are transversevertical sectionsin line 1717 and 18 18, Fig. 15. Fig. 19 is a top planview of the same parts, showing one of the locking-rods I placed in theauxiliary locking-socket. "Fig. i 20'is a longitudinal section in line20 20, Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is a face view of'the door-trip device forresetting the machine to its'normalcondition after an'elector hasvoted,showing theposition'of the parts when the door is closed. Fig. 22is a horizontal section in line 22 22, Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a similarsection'showing the position of the parts just after the door-pawl hastripped the resettingslide. Fig. 24: isa top plan 'viewof one of thecounters or registers. Fig. 25 is acrosssection in line 25 25, Fig. 5.Fig. 26 ,is an enlarged perspective'view of one of the voting-keys. I I

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures. 7I The machine is to be placed in a booth or compartment which theelectors successively enter for registering or recordingtheir choice ofcandidates and which has a doorA, through which the voters .maybothenter and leave 0 the booth, or, if preferred, two independent doors maybe provided, one for the entrance Bis the inclosing case of the machine,preferably made rectangular in form andhavhigher than its front portionB This rear portion preferably has an upwardly-swinging hinged lid B andthe sides and the front end of the case maybe providedwith panels, asshown in Fig. 1, to facilitate the examination and repair of theinternal parts of the machine.

G 0 represent the voting-keys or pushbuttons whereby the counters orregisters are actuated and which project in series or rows above thefront portion of the inclosing case, as shown in Fig. l. The keys Carefor voting straight party-tickets by the actuation of a single key andbear the names or other designations of the respective parties, whilethe remaining keys are for voting a mixed or split ticket and bear thenames of the various offices and of the candidates of the differentparties running for the offices. As shown in Fig. 1, the straight orparty keys 0 arearranged in a row extending lengthwise of the case, andthe keys representing the same oflice extend in parallel lines or groupslengthwise of the machine, while the keys representing the differentcandidates of the same party are arranged in rows extending crosswise ofthe machine and in line with their respective party-keys O. I In thedrawings are shown but two rows of mixed-ticket keys representing theoflices of governor and mayor by way of, illustration; but it is obviousthat as many of such groups of keys are employed as there are offices tobe filled at the election.

In order to enable blind electors to vote without the assistance ofothers, the keys are provided with raised or embossed characters 0,indicating the offices or parties represented by them, as shown in Fig.26, so that they may be read by such persons with the use of thefingers, like the raised characters of books printed for the blind. V

The keys preferably consist of upright rocklevers pivoted between theirends so as to swing lengthwise of themachine, and the key-levers of eachlongitudinal group are pivoted to one side of a partition or board Gwhich extends from the rear wall of the case to an intermediatetransverse wall C arranged near the front end of the case. Each of thestraight-ticket keys C operates a counter or register D, and the severalcounters of these keys are all preferably mountedon the same partitionto which the corresponding key-levers are-pivoted, as shown in Fig. 3.These counters may be of any suitable or wellknown construction. Thoseshown in the drawings each consist of a series of registerdisks arrangedside by side on a horizontal shaft (1 and provided on their faces withnumerals running from 0 lo 9, the first disk being moved the distance ofone numeral by each push of the corresponding actuating-ke v, andthrough the medium of a vibrating pawlarm d swinging on the shaft of thedisks and engaging with pins (1 projecting from the side of the firstdisk, and a link d connecting said pawl-arm with the lower arm of thecorresponding key-lever, as shown in Fig. 3.. The movement of each diskexcept the last is transmitted to the next once during each rotationthereof.

thereof by a star-wheel d in a manner common to this class of counters.Every time one of the straight-ticket keys is actuated by an elector hisvote is registered upon the counter of the corresponding party, so thatat the close of the polls the number of straight votes cast for eachparty is indicated by the counters, the latter being exposed throughapertures d formed in a non -transparent plate d, which covers thecounters and which in turn is covered by a transparent door (1',preferably hinged at one end to the case, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and12.

The mixed-ticket keys 0, representing the individual candidates of thevarious parties, are constructed like the straight-ticket keys 0, andthose of each longitudinal group are pivoted to a longitudinal partitionin the same manner as the keys 0, there being as many of thesepartitions as there are longitudinal series of keys. Each of thesemixed-ticket keys actuates an individual counter E through a of thestraight-ticket keys C, and also to pre vent him from actuating morethan one of a corresponding group of mixed-ticket keys C, a lockingdevice is employed for each line or group of keys which is constructedas follows: F represents combined shifting and stop bars arrangedlengthwise of the case on one side of the-lower arms of the same groupof key levers. These bars are guided upon horizontal pins f, projectingfrom the side of the adjacent partition C and passing throughlongitudinal slots of the bar, as shown in Fig. 3. This baris providedwith lugs f, which project laterally in front of the lower arms of saidkey-levers, as. shown in Fig. 5, such a ing being provided for eachlever, so that upon depressing any lever of a group the bar F is shiftedforwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3.

f is a longitudinal locking-bar arranged on one side of each group ofkey-levers below their pivots and connected with the shiftingbar F, soas to take part in the movements The preferred means for effecting thismovement of the group-locking bar consists of a depending link f pivotedat its 7 upper end to the partition 0 and at its lower end to theshifting-bar F and connected between its ends to the bent rear end ofthe locking-bar bya pin f whereby the lockingbar is caused to moveforward and backward with the shifting-bar. The front end of thelocking-bar is guided by a pin f projecting from the partition G into alongitudinal slot of the bar. As shown in Figs. 3, 11, and 14,

the group-locking bar f is provided on one sidewith locking lugs orstops j', which are adapted to interlock with arms or noses f projectingrearwardly from the key-levers on f stand a sufiicient distance in rearof the noses f of the key-levers to clear the same, as shown by dottedlines in Fig; 2, so as not to interfere with the movements of any of thelevers of the group. When one of the levers of a group is depressed,both the shifting-bar F and the corresponding lockingbar f are movedforwardly, causing the locking-stops f, which cooperate with theundisturbed key-levers of the group, to be shifted underneath the nosesf of those levers and locking them against backward or effectivemovement, as shown in Figs. 3 and 14. By this forward movement of thegroup-locking bar that stop thereof which cooperates with the depressedkey-lever also interlocks with the nose f of that lever; but as the noseis arranged substantially at right angles to the lever the tilting ofthe lever causes it to move below the level of the lever-pivot, andhence the corresponding locking-stop f engages against the upper side ofthe nose, as shown in the last-mentioned figure, thereby locking theactuated key-lever against forward movement and preventing the voterfrom repeating or actuating the same more than once.

After an elector has voted the various depressed key-levers are restoredto their normal position ready forthe next voter by a .universalresetting-bar g, arranged transversely in the rear portion of the caseand adapted to engage with all of the shifting-bars F.. Thisresetting-bar is caused to move bodily backward and forward by a pair ofhorizontal bell-crank levers g, pivoted to the bottom of the case, asshown in Figs. 2 to 5, and having their front arms connected with theresetting-bar by links g Each shiftingbar F is provided in rear of thisresetting-bar with a lip or shoulder 1 against which the resetting-barengages when shifted rearwardly and whereby all the bars of the variousgroups which have been shifted forwardly are returned to their normalposition, thereby causing the shifting-bars to return the depressedkey-levers to their normal position by the engagement of their lugs fagainst the lower, front sides of the levers. The lips g of theshifting-bars F are arranged a sufficient distance in rear of theresetting-bar g to prevent the latter from interfering with theshiftingbars d uring-th eir forward stroke. In resetting theshifting-bars F and the depressed keylevers to their former position thegroup-locking bars f are at the same time shifted rearwardlysufficiently to withdraw theirstops f out of engagement with the noses fof the key-levers, whereby all of the latter are unlocked ready to beactuated by the next voter.

The resetting-bar g is actuated by a transverse rod g connected to therear arms of the elbow-levers g and extending through one of the sidewalls of the case, as shown in Figs.

1 and 5, and said rod is returned to its normal position when said rodis released by a spring 9 To prevent two or more keys of the samelongitudinal group from being actuated simultaneousl y and so voting formore than one candidate for the same office or voting more than onestraightparty-ticket,each of the keylevers of the same group is providedwith astop-rod h, which is pivoted at oneend to the lever, preferablybelowits pivot, and which slides at its opposite free end in alongitudinal socket H, secured to the adjacent'partition on the frontside of the foremost lever of the group, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 15, 16,17,18, 19, and 20. The free ends of the stop-rods of each group rest oneupon another and are. free to slide in the socket independently of oneanother, the lowermost rod resting'upon the bottom of the socket. Thesocket is sufficiently narrow to keep the rods in this superposedposition and is provided in its rear wall with a central opening h,which is just large enough to admit but one of the stop-ro'ds'at a time,as shown in Fig. 16. Above and below this opening the socket is providedwith converging guides or beveled surfaces 71, of corresponding angles,forming together a tapering channel which directs the stop-rods towardthe opening of the socket. The several rods of a group are made of sucha length that their free ends are normally flush, as shown in Fig. 15.When any one of the key-levers of a group except that having theuppermost stop-rod h is depressed, the corresponding stop-rod is shiftedforwardly in the socket H and directed into the opening 72. thereof bythe converging guides hithus permitting the lever to be freely actuatedand completely depressed. Then the uppermost stop-rod of a group ismoved into the socket, the same slides nearly horizontally into theopening h, which latter is placed at the proper level for this purpose,as shown in Fig. 15. When a rod below the uppermost one is projectedinto the socket, said rod lifts or deflects those above it out of theway, as shown inFig. 16. Should it be attempted to depress two or morekeys of the same longitudinal group at the same time, the stop-rods ofthe depressed keys advance toward the socket-opening h simulta-.

neously and practically as a single rod having the cross-sectionalthickness of both. As the opening of the socket is only large enough toadmit a single stop-rod and as the tapering guide-surfaces 72. directall the rods uniformly toward the opening h, neither of them comessquarely opposite the opening, and each blocks the entrance of theothers into the same. Hence all of the projected stoprods are arrestedby the rear end of the socket 11 before the actuated key-levers havebeen moved sufficiently to operate the corresponding counters, therebypreventing fraudulent voting by the simultaneous depression of a numberof keys.

It sometimes happens that candidates are v to be chosen only for some ofthe offices designated by the keys, and in that case it is desirable tolock those keys which are not required to prevent the actuation of thesame and the erroneous-count of the total number ofvotes that wouldresult therefrom. In order to lock such unused keys, an auxiliarylocking pocket or socket H is arranged on one side of each of the mainlockingsockets H, which pocket is adapted to receive the free ends ofthe stop-rods 7L, connected with the unused keys. As shown in Figs. 18,19, and 20, each of these pockets II is closed at its rear end, so as toarrest the forward movement of the stop-rods before the correspond ingkeys are depressed far enough to affect their counters, while its frontend and its top are open. The top of the main locking-socket is alsoopen in front of its upper inclined guide 71 so that the stop-rods ofunused keys can be readily lifted out of-the main socket and placed inthe auxiliary socket, as shown in Fig. 19.

To prevent a person who votes a straight party-ticket from actuating anyof the mixedticket keys or those representing individual candidates andalso to prevent a person who votes a mixed ticket from actuating any ofthe straight-ticket keys, it is necessaryto provide a locking mechanismwhich locks all the keys of one of such sets in the act of depressingany key of the other set. My improved device for accomplishing thisresult consists of a sliding locking-bar I, arranged across the frontends ofthe shifting-bars F. This locking'bar, which will hereinafter betermed the series-locking bar to distinguish it from the group-lockingbar f is arranged to slide crosswise of the machine and guided byparallel horizontal links 1', pivoted at their ends to said bar and thebottom of the case, respectively, as shown in Figs. 5 to 9. Thisseries-locking bar has an upright flange 2", which is provided withapertures 2' and which stands in such close proximity to the front endsof the shifting-bars F that when the solid portions of said flange areopposite the bars they prevent the same from being moved forwardlyout oftheir normal position ,thereby lockin g the various series of keys,while when said series-locking bar is shifted to bring its apertures 2opposite the front ends of said shifting-bars the forward movement ofthe latter is unrestrained and the keys can be freely operated.- Theseries-locking bar is provided 011 one side of its apertures and at ornear its ends with shifting cams or oblique faces 1' i which are adaptedto be engaged by the front ends of the shifting-bars F and which arearranged in the path of said bars in the normal position of theseries-locking bar, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when any one of theshifting-bars F is projected by the actuation of one of thecorresponding keys it rides over the opposing cam of the series-lockingbar and shifts the bar laterally a sufficient distance to bring thesolid portions of its flange in front of all other shifting-bars whichshould be looked, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, thereby locking such otherbars and the keys controlled by the same. Fig. 6 shows the position ofthe parts when the shifting-bar F of a line of mixed-ticket keys isprojected,

said bar having entered its corresponding aperture in the series-lockingbar I and shifted the latter so as toloek the shiftingbar F of thestraight-ticket keys, the shifting bar or bars corresponding to theremaining series of mixed-ticket keys being left unlocked to permit thevoter to indicate his choice as to candidates represented by suchremaining groups of mixed-ticket keys. Fig. 7 shows the position of theparts when the shifting-bar F of the straight-ticket keys is projected,said bar having cleared the corresponding aperture 2' or the end of theserieslocking bar I and shifted the latter, so as to look all of theshifting-bars F belonging to the mixed-ticket keys, inasmuch as none ofthese keys are to be actuated after the voter depresses astraight-ticket key.

As the series-locking bar I,is shifted in opposite directions, the cam1' thereof, which cooperates with the shifting-bar F of thestraight-ticket keys, is arranged to trend in the opposite directionfrom the cams i, which cooperate with the shifting-bars F of themixed-ticket keys, as shown in Figs. 6, '7, and 9. The series-lockingbar has an aperture 1' flanked by such a cam for each of theintermediate shifting-bars F; but for the two shifting-bars at the endsof the series it has only a cam at each end of its flange, the ends ofsaid flange clearing such terminal-shifting bars when the same areunlocked, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

\Vhen the shifting-bars F are restored to their initial position,theseries-locking bar I is automatically returned to its-normal centralposition by a pair of horizontal armsj, pivoted 1 to the bottom of thecase and bearing with their free front portions against opposite sidesof one of the guide-links t' of said bar, and a pair ofoppositely-acting springsj, operating,

respectively, upon said arms and tending to retain them in a position atright angles to the series-locking bar. VVh'en the latter bar isshifted, the centering-arm j, which is on that side of the guide-link 1'toward which said bar is moved, is deflected and its spring is strained,the other arm and its springremaining undisturbed, as shown in Fig. 7.As soon as the series-locking bar I is released the deflected arm j bythe reaction of its spring returns said bar to its original position.

K is a counter for registering the total number of straight votes cast,K a counter for registering the total number of mixed or split votes,and K a counter for registering the grand total of said two classes ofvotes. These counters may be constructed like the counters D or of anyother suitable construction.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, 7c is a horizontal actuating-bar for thestraight-vote Figs. 4, 5, and 25.

counter. This bar is pivoted at one end to the bottom of the case, asshown at k, so as to swing lengthwise of the case,-a.nd is connectedatits opposite end with a depending arm k pivoted at its upper end tothe side of the adjacent partition C as shown in The arm 70 is in turnconnected with the actuator or pawl-arm of said counter by a link 70;The actuatingbar it is operated from the shifting-bar F of thestraight-ticket keys by a lug or shoulder 7t, projecting from said barand arranged on the rear side of the actuating-bar 7.0. When saidshifting-bar is moved forward by the depression of any of thestraight-ticket keys, its shoulder 70 strikes the actuating-bar 7c andshifts it in the same direction, thereby actuating the straight-ticketcounter through the arm k and link L The actuating-bar is returned toits former position, preparatory to registering the next vote, bya lug70 formed on said shifting-bar on the front side of the actuating-bar.This actuating-bar is also connected with the pawl-arm of thegrand-total counter K by a link 75, an arm 7H, similar to the arm 715and link 715 and a link k connecting the arms k and k so that thestraight votes are also registered upon 1 that counter.

L is a universal bar which actuates the mixed-ticket counter ortotalizer and which is operated by the movement of the firstmixed-ticket key manipulated by-the voter, so as to register the totalnumber of split or mixed tickets voted. The universal bar L is arrangedcrosswise of the case underneath the shifting-bars F of the mixed-ticketkeys and guided so as to move bodilylengthwise of the machine. The baris guided to move in this manner by a pair of horizontal bellcranklevers L, pivoted to the bottom of the case and having their transversearms connected with the universal bar, while their longitudinal. armsare coupled by a link Z, which causes them to move in unison. Theuniversal bar L is caused to take part in the forward movement of anyone of the shiftingbars F of the split-ticket keys by lugs or shouldersZ, formed on the bars on the rear side of the universal bar. Themovement of this universal bar is imparted to the pawlarm of thegrand-total counter by a link Z vibrating arm 76*, and link 7t, and tothe pawlarm of the mixed-ticket counter K by a vibrating arm Z a link Zconnecting said arm with the pawl-arm of the mixed-ticket counter, and alink Z connecting the'arm Z with the link Z By these connections thenumber of mixed or split votes is registered upon the grand-totalcounter, as wellas upon the mixed-ticket counter.

To permit either of the connecting-links k Z to actuate the vibratingarm k of the grandtotal counter without restraint from the other, eachof these links is provided with a longitudinal slot Z, through which thelower pivotpin t of said arm passes, as shown in Fig. 4.

hen said arm is swung forwardly by either or shoulder Z which engagesbehind the uni-- vei'sal resetting-bar When the arm Z is in itsnormalposition, its shoulder Z stands at such a distance behind theresetting-bar g that it does not come in contact therewith during theforward stroke of the pawl-arm of the grand-total counter. When theuniversal bar 9 is moved rearwardly, it engages against the shoulder ofsaid arm and returns the pawl-arm to its rearmost position. Theuniversal bar L, which is connected with the actuator of themixed-ticket counter, is reset to its normal position by a link Z whichis attached at its rear end to the resetting-bar g and which has alimited sliding connection With the bar L, such as a slot and pin, asshown in Fig. 5, whereby said universal bar is free to move forwardly,but compelled to move rearwardly with the resetting-bar. By thisconstruction the universal barL is shifted rearwardly by the depressionof the first mixed-ticket key actuated by the voter, and it remains inits rearward position while the remaining mixed-ticket keys are operatedby the voter, said bar being reset to its former position when theresetting-bar is actuated. Only one vote is by this means registeredupon the mixed-ticket counter and the grand-total counter by eachelector voting a mixed ticket.

To enable electors to vote for any person or persons not nominated byany of the regular political parties, a drum, tablet, or platen M,carrying a strip of paper, is employed in connection with each line orgroup of mixedticket keys'representing the same office, upon which drumthe voter may Write or otherwise of the case and the transversepartition 0? and mounted loosely on a transverse shaft m, supported insuitable bearings. The up-. per portions of the drums are arranged underapertures m, formed in the top plate of the case, so that the voter canmake a record upon the exposed portion of the strip of paper.

it represents longitudinally-movable slides or shutters which normallyclose the apertures m and which must be opened in order to give thevoter access to the recordingdrums. per side of the top plate of thecaseand are guided in suitable Ways, each shutter being provided with aknob or thumb -piece for shifting it. n represents longitudinalreciprocating feed-bars arranged on the under side of the respectiverecording-drums M and extending rearwardly through the transverse Theseshutters are applied to the uppartition C vided on its front portionwith a tooth M, which is. adapted to engage with one of an annularseries of notches n formed in the pe riphery of the drum at one sidethereof, and which is adapted to feed the drum forward intermittentlyfrom one notch to the next upon the rearward stroke of the feedbar, soas to expose a fresh portion of the paper strip through thecorresponding aperture m. The front side of the toothn is beveled so asto ride over the 'notched portion of the drum during the forward strokeof the bar and not affect the drum. To permit of this action, the rearportion of the feed-bar is mounted on a horizontal pivot n projectingfrom the partition 0 and passing through a 1ongitudi= nal slot 91 of thefeed-bar, as shown in Fig. 12. This construction permits the bar toslide backward and forward and at the same time allows its front end toyield when the beveled front side of its toothrides forwardly over thenotches of the drum. The free end of the feed-bar isyieldingly heldagainst the drum by a spring 12 secured to the case and bearing at itsfree end against the under side of the bar: Retrograde movement of thedrum is prevented by a detent-pawl of, engagingv with its notches. I

The rearward or opening movement of the shutter is transmitted to thefeed-bar n by a longitudinal connecting-bar n and an upright rock-levern".

This connecting-bar is guided and supported at its front end by-ahorizontal pin n projecting from the side of the partition 0 andentering a longitudinal slot in the bar, and it is provided at its frontend with an upward projection 72 1, which passes through a slot at,formed in the top plate of the case and engages with the shutter in suchmanner that this bar and the shutter are compelled to move together. Therear end of this connecting-bar is connected to the upper arm of therock-lever a", and the lower arm of this lever engages loosely againstthe rear side of a pin or projection n arranged on the rear portion ofthe feedbar n, so that when the sh utter is opened the -rock-lever bearsagainst the pin 01. andg'shifts the feedbar forwardly to the positionshown in Fig. 13, thus preparing the bar for its effective stroke Theopening movement of the shutter is also utilized for locking thestraight-ticket keys and the group of mixed-ticket keys rep resentingthe same office as'the efi'posed recording-drum, so that a voter whorecords a vote on one of the drums cannot also vote for other candidatesrunning for the same office nor vote one of the straight tickets. Thekeys just referred to are locked in the act of opening the shutter by ashoulder 0, formed on the feed-bar n of the drum and en gaging againstalug 0', projecting from the shifting-bar F of the corresponding group ofmixed-ticket keys This shifting-bar is moved forwardly when the shutteris opened through the connectingbar 02 rock-lever n", and the pin 11 onthe Each of these feed-bars is profeed-bar, and as this shifting-baroperates the group-locking bar f of the corresponding keys these keysare locked. As hereinbefore described, the forward movement of any oneof such shifting-bars also shifts the serieslocking bar I in the properdirection to lock the straight-ticket keys, and hence the openingmovement of the shutter locks all the straight-ticket keys, as well asthe group of mixed-ticket keys representing the same office as theuncovered drum. \Vhen these various keys are restored to their normalposition by the retraction of the projected shifting-bar F, thelug 0' ofthat; bar strikes the shoulder o of the feed-bar n and moves the latterrearwardly, thereby causing the feed-bar to'turn the drum the distanceof one notch for bringing a fresh portion ;of the recording-stripopposite the aperture. This rearward movement of the feed-bar alsocauses the pin n thereof to strike the rock-lever n and reverse thesame, causing this lever to close the shutter through the medium of theconnectingbar a as shown in Fig. 12.

Each drum is provided with a locking-pawl p, which interlocks with oneof its notches when the shutter is open and locks the drum againstrotation in both directions, thereby preventing a voter who has oncerecorded his choice from turning the drum to expose a fresh portionthereof through the aperture m for fraudulently; repeating his vote. Thelocking-pawl p is pivoted at its lower end to a stationary support andis yieldingly held in engagement with the drum by a spring 19'. Thispawl is moved out of engagement with the drum upon the effective strokeof the feed-bar nby a pin or projection p arranged on the feed-bar andengaging against the front side of the locking-pawl above the pivotthereof, as shown in Fig.12. The connections between the shutter and thefeed-barn are so proportioned or constructed that the shutter is fullyclosed before the drum is fed forward, renderingit impossible for aperson to write more than one name on the drum, the exposed portionofthe paper strip being just wide enough to receive a single name. Thereleasing-pin p of the locking-pawl p is so arranged that the pawl isdisengaged from the drum before the tooth of the feed-bar or engages ina notch ofthe drum.

When an electordoes not use the recording-drum, but votes only forregular party nominees, it is necessary to lock the shutters of thedrums to prevent avoter from recording a fraudulent vote upon any of thedrums. For this purpose each shutter has a locking device consisting ofa vertically-swinging pawl q, which is pivoted at its rear end to thefeed-barn of the drum and whichis adapted to encounter a stopq,projecting from the adjacent partition 0 as shown by dotted lines .inFig. 12, thereby blocking the forward movement of the feed-bar, andconsequently preventing the shutter from being opened. The stop q isarranged above the planeof the free IIC end of this locking-pawl in thenormal position of the latter, as shown by full lines in Fig. 12, sothat when the feed-bar n is advanced in this position of the pawl thepawl passes underneath the stop and does not interfere with the movementof the feed-bar.

Q2 is a lifting-pin which projects from the shitting-bar F, from whichthe feed-bar is actuated and which engages under the lockingpawl q andis adapted to move along a cam or incline formed on the under side ofthe pawl in front of the pin, so that when said lifting-pin movesforwardly with said shifting-bar it swings the'pawl upwardly, bringingits free end in line with the stop q, as shown by dotted lines in Fig.12, and preventing the further forward movement of the feed-bar. \Vhenthe shifting-bar Fis restored to its former position, the lifting-pinrecedes with it and allows the locking-pawl q to descend by gravity andclear the stop, thus again unlocking the shutter. The feedbar a and theshifting-bar F are arranged on opposite sides of the partition and thelifting-pin carried by the shifting-bar extends laterally through alongitudinal slot q, formed in said partition. \Vhen a shutter is openedby a voter, the feed-barn of the corresponding recording-d rum and theshifting-bar F of the corresponding group of mixed-ticket keys are movedforwardly in unison, and the locking-pawl q and its liftingpin, carriedby said bars, respectively, therefore advance in concert, so that saidpin does not lift the pawl into its locking position, but allows it toremain in its horizontal position,in which it does not obstruct themovement of the feed-bar. In order to permit the shifting-bars F to ad-Vance independently of the feed-bars n for locking the latter and theshutters when any of the voting-keys are depressed, the notches orrecesses 0 of the feed-bars, which receive the lugs 0 of theshifting-bars F, are made of such length that said lugs at no timestrike the front ends of said notches.

It will now be understood that the opening movement of a shutter locksall of the straightticket keys and that group of mixed-ticket keysdenoting the same ofti ce as the uncovered drum and also effects thereturn stroke of the feed-bar n, and that the closing movement of theshutter, which is produced by the movement of the key-resettingmechanism, produces the effective stroke of thefeed-bar for bringing afresh portion ofthe strip on the druin opposite the aperture m for theuse ofa subsequent voter.

To prevent a voter from opening one of the drum-shutters and at the sametime depressing a voting-key, the feed-bar of each drum is provided witha stop-rod similar to the stop-rodsh of the keys, as shown by full linesin Figs. 2, 15, and 16 and by dotted lines in Fig. 12. The rod of eachfeed-bar has its free end arranged in the socket which receives the rodsof the corresponding group of keys.

Owing to the loose connection between the rock-lever n and the feed-barn, the closing movement of the shutter, if performed by a voter, doesnot shift the feed-bar n and does not, therefore, affect therecording-drum. This prevents a voter from feeding the drum forward morethan one notch by reciprocating the shutter.

The resetting-rod g may be operated by one ot'the election officialsafter a voter leaves the booth; but this rod is preferably actuated bythe opening of the door through which the voter leaves the booth, so asto automatically reset the machine to its normal condition for the nextvoter. The automatic devices employed for this purpose are constructedas follows:

R is a horizontally-sliding hook or catch arranged on the inner side ofthe jamh to which the door is hinged, as shown in Figs. 1, 21, 22, and23, and with which the outer end of the resetting-rod g is connected bya link r, so that the rod .reciprocates with said hook. This hook issuitably guided on a bracket r, secured to the door, the means shown inthe drawings consisting of a pin r on the bracket, which passes througha longitudinal slot 0' in the widened shank of the hook.

S is a horizontally-swinging catch or lever applied to the inner side ofthe door near its hinged edge and adapted to engage with the slidinghook B when the door is opened, so as to shift said hook in the properdirection to pull the resetting-rod The catch S is pivoted at s to abracket 5, secured to the door, and its front arm, which carries thenose 3 of the catch, is swung toward the sliding hook R by a spring 8secured to the door and bearing against the inner side of a pin 3,arranged on the short arm of the catch-lever. The latter is provided atits front end with a releasing-pin 5 which is adapted to ride over a cam3, arranged at the outer end of the bracket 4*. The wide outer end ofthis cam extends outwardly beyond the nose of the sliding hook B, sothat as the door is opened the nose of the catch is gradually shiftedoutward on the nose of the hook by said pin and incline until therestoring-rod has been fully Withdrawn, by which time the catch isdisengaged from the hook and the spring g is allowed to return the hookR, the rod g and connecting parts to their former position. W'hen thedoor is closed, the nose of the catch S simply rides over the bevelednose of the hook R- and again assumes the normal position shown in Fig.22. The inward movement of the catch-lever is properly limited in theopen position of the door by an adjustable stop or screw 5 which ismounted on the bracket 8' and against which the front arm of the catchstrikes.

The connection between the resetting-rod g and the door is preferablyinclosed by a suitable housing (not shown in the drawings) to prevent avoter from operating the reset ting-rod before leaving the booth andrepeating his vote.

When the parts of the machine are in their normal position ready forvoting, the opening movement of the door causes the resettingbar to bepulled again, but does not affect the resetting device connectedtherewith, because the resettingbarg shifts the bars F only back wardly,and after they have once been reset to that position any subsequentmovement of the resetting-bar is an idle one so long as the machineremains in that condition. The same door may by this construction beused both for entering and leaving the booth.

To prevent tampering with the machine after the close of the polls, alocking device is provided whereby all of the voting-keys and theshutters of the recording-drums can be effectually locked againstmovement in either direction. This locking device consists of anauxiliary locking-bar T, which cooperates with the series-locking bar Iand which is adapted to be moved in front of the shifting bar F of thestraight-ticket keys in the same manner as the series-locking bar, asshown in Fig.0, so as to prevent the forward movement of saidshifting-bar, and thereby lock said keys. This auxiliary locking-barslides transversely on the bottom of the case and its rear portion isguided by a pin 75, projecting from the bottom of the case through aslot in the bar, while its front portion is provided with a lip orshoulder t, which is adapted to bear against the adjacent end of theserieslocking bar I and to rest at all times against the front edge ofsaid bar, so as to form a guide for the front end of the auxiliarylocking-bar. The latteris moved toward the left or into its lockingposition by a tumbler 25 secured to a longitudinal shaft 25 and bearingagainst a shoulder of said bar. extends forwardlyintoakey-sockettflsecurcd in the front wall of the case, and is turned by asuitable key, the outer end of the shaft being square or of othersuitable cross-section. WVhen released, the auxiliary locking-bar T isreturned to its normal position by a spring 25 When it is desired tolook all the voting devices, the auxiliary locking-bar T is shiftedtoward the left, thereby moving the same in front of the shifting-bar Fof the straightticket keys and at the same time causing the auxiliarylocking-bar to shift the series-locking bar I in the same direction byengaging against the right-hand end thereof, thereby bringing the solidportions of the series-locking bar in front of all the shifting-bars Fof the mixed-ticket keys and locking the latter. As these last-namedshifting-bars control the movement of the feed-bars n of therecording-drums M, the shutters of the drums are also looked.

When it is desired to unlock all the voting devices, the auxiliarylocking-bar T is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which itclears the shifting bar F of the straight-ticket keys. The retraction ofthe auxiliary locking-bar also allows the springs j to return theseries-locking bar to the nor- This shaft mal position, (shown in Fig.5,) thereby unlocking the shifting-bars F of the remaining keys and alsothe shutters of the recording drums controlled by the same.

In order to prevent the movement of one key-lever of a group from beingaccidentally imparted to others of the same group, each of said leversis provided with a yielding retarding device,- whieh preferably consistsof a flat spring u, secured at one end to the partition G which supportsthe key-levers, and hearing at its free end against the side of thelever, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 10.

Vis an alarm-bell or gong which is sounded every time a voter opens thedoor to leave the booth, indicating that he has voted and that the nextvoter may enter the booth. This bell is sounded by a sliding rod orhammer'v, connected with the universal resetting-bar g, the hammer beingwithdrawn by the rearward movement of said bar and projected against thebell by the forward movement thereof.

Briefly stated,the operation of myimproved machine is as follows: In thenormal condition of the machine all of the various keys and the shuttersof the recordin g-dru ms M are unlocked and ready to be actuated. Shouldthe elector, for example, desire to vote a straight party-ticket-say theRepublican tickethe depresses the key bearing the correspondingdesignation. This movement of the key is transmitted to thestraight-vote counter K and also the grand-total counter K By the samemovement the shifting-bars F of the same key group is moved forwardly,thereby moving the group-locking bar f into the proper position to lockthe remaining straight-ticket keys, as well as the depressed key, andalso causing the series-locking bar I to be shifted into the properposition to lock the shifting bars F of all the mixed-ticket keys.results in looking the shutters of the recording-drums, as hereinbeforedescribed. It is therefore impossible for the elector to actuate amixed-ticket key or to record a vote upon This locking of theshifting-bars also 1 one of the drums after having once depressed astraight-ticket key.

Should the elector wish to vote a mixed ticket, he depresses that key 0in each longitudinal group which bears the name of his choice. theshifting-bar F of the corresponding key is advanced and caused to shiftthe serieslocking bar I into the proper position to lock theshifting-barF of the straight-ticket keys, the shifting-bars of theremaining mixedticket-key groups being left unlocked to enable theelector to depress a key in each of those remaining groups. Indepressing such a key the other keys of the same group are also lockedby the movement of the corresponding group-locking bar f At the sametime the shutter of the recording-drum belonging to the same group islocked by the forward movement of the corresponding shift- In the act ofdepressing the first key ing-bar F, which movement causes the pin glocking-bar adapted to engage with said stops,

of said bar to lift the locking-pawl q, so that if it be attempted toopen the shutter said pawl encounters the stop q and arrests the forwardmovement of the feed-bar n, thus keeping the shutter closed. Themovement of the first mixed-ticket key actuated by the voter istransmitted to theindividual counter D of the corresponding candidate,also to the mixed-ticket counter K, and also to the grandtotal counter Kthus indicating the total number of mixed or split tickets voted, as

well as the total straight tickets, and also the sum of the straight andsplit tickets.

If an elector desires to vote for a person not nominated on any regularticket, he opens the shutter of the recording-drum representing theoffice for which the vote is to be cast and writes the name of hischoice upon the exposed portion of the strip on the drum. In the act ofopening the shutter the shiftingbar F of the corresponding group ofmixedticket keys is shifted forwardly by the engagement of the shoulder0 of the feed-bar of said drum against the lug 0 of said shiftingbar.This movement of the shifting bar causes the corresponding group-lockingbar f to interlock with all of the keys of said group, thus preventingthe voter from actuating any of said keys or votingfor differentcandidates running for the same office after having once opened theshutter of that group.

The same movement of the said shiftingbar shifts the series-locking barIinto the proper position to lock the shifting-bar F, which controls thestraight-ticket keys, thus locking the latter also. The same lockingaction is'repeated with reference to the other groups of mixed-ticketkeys in case the elector records a vote upon their corresponding drums.

The total number of votes cast for any particular candidate isascertained by adding the number of votes indicated by the correspondingindividual counter D and the number of straight votes indicated by thestraight-ticket counter of the party by which he is nominated.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a group of key-leverseach having a locking nose or projection arranged adjacent to its pivot,of a movable locking-bar having lugs adapted to engage on one or theother side of the locking-noses of the keys, according to 'the positionof the keys, and a connection between said locking-bar and each of thekeys of the group whereby the locking-bar is shifted by the depressionof any one of said key-levers, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a group of key-levers each having alocking-stop, of a movable locking-bar adapted to engage with said stop,and a shifting-bar controlling the movement of said locking-bar andarranged to be engaged by all of the key-levers of the group, 65.

substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a group of key-1e vers each having alocking-stop, of a movable the movements thereof,of a stop-socketadapted to receive said rods and provided in its rear wall with anopening which admits but one of said rods at a time, and a taperingchannel which directs the rods toward said opening, and an auxiliarystop-socket arranged adjacent to said perforated socket and having animperforate rear wall,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with two or more groups of keys and a longitudinalrestoring-bar for each of said groups, of a universal bar arrangedcrosswise of said restoring-bars and engaging with all of the same, apair of bellcrank levers having corresponding arms connected with saiduniversal bar, and an. actuatin g device connected with the other armsof said levers, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with two or more groups or classes of keys, and astop-bar for each of said groups, of a horizontal locking-bar arrangedopposite the ends of said stop-bars and having an upright stop-flangeprovided with apertures for the passage of said stop-bars, and uprightshifting-cams arranged at the edges of said recesses and adapted to beengaged by the ends of 'said'stop-bars, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with two or more groups or classes of keys and astop-bar for each of said groups, of a locking-bar arranged to moveacross the ends of said stop-bars and having a guide arm or link, a pairof pivoted restoring-arms bearing against opposite sides of said link,and springs tending to retain said re- ICO storing-arms in their normalposition, sub-;

stantially as set forth.

8. The combination with thevoting-keys, counters for registeringdifferent classes of votes and a counter for registering the totalnumber of votes, of actuating-bars for said class-counters, connectionsbetween saidactuating-bars and the pawl-arms of said'three counterswhich permit the simultaneous actuation of one of the class-counters andthe grand total counter without affecting the other class-counter, aresetting-bar, a link connecting said resetting-bar with'one of saidactuating-bars and a resetting-arm operated by said resetting-bar andconnected with the actuator of the grand-total counter, substan tiallyas set forth.

9. The combination with a number of voting-keys and a counter, of auniversal bar actuated bysaid keys and operating said counter, a pair ofbell-crank levers swinging in a parallel plane with said bar and havingtheir corresponding arms pivoted thereto, and a coupling-bar connectingthe other arms of said and a shutter applied to the aperture,,of a se- Iries of voting-keys, locking devices for said keys, a shifting-barcontrolling said locking devices, a feed-bar for said drum arranged.

parallel with said shifting-bar and having a shoulder or projectionadapted to engage therewith, and a lever having one of its armsconnected with said shutter and having its other arm engaged with saidshifting-bar, substantially as set forth;

11. The combination with a case having an aperture, a vote -recordingdrum or tablet adapted to be exposedlthrough said aperture, and ashutter applied to the aperture, of a locking-pawl which preventsrotation of the drum, when the shutter is open and which is disengagedfrom the drum when the shutter is closed, and a feed device for the drumoperated by the shutter, substantially as set forth. I

12. The combination with a case having an aperture, a voterecording drumor tablet adapted to be exposed through said aperture, and a shutterapplied: to the aperture, of a locking-pawl which prevents rotation ofthe I drum and a feed-bar for the drum operated by the shutter andhaving a projection which engages against said pawl for disengaging thesame from the drum, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with a case having an aperture and a recording drumor tablet arranged therein and adapted to be exposed through saidaperture, of a shutter applied to the aperture, a feed-bar forintermittently moving said drum or tablet, and a loose connectionbetween the shutter and said feedbar which imparts only the openingmovement of the shutter to the feedbar, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with acase having an aperture, a vote-recording drumor tablet adapted to be exposed through said aperture and a shutterapplied to theaperture, of a movable support which takes partin theopening movement of the shuttena stop, a locking-pawl mounted on saidsgapportand ar ranged to strike said stop when moved out of its normalposition and toclear the same when in its normal position,;and ashifting device whereby said pawl is moved 'into its locking position,substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a case having an aperture, a vote-recordingdrum or tablet adapted to be exposed through said aperture, and ashutter applied to the. aperture, of a movable support which takes partin the opening movement of the shutter, a stop, a locking-pawl mountedon said support and arranged to strike said stop when moved out of itsnormal position, and to clear the same when in its normal position, aseries of voting-keys and a shifting device operated by said keys andarranged to move said pawl into its locking position, substantially asset forth. 1 o

16. The combination with a case having an aperture, a vote-recordingdrum or tablet adapted to be exposed through said aperture and a shutterapplied to the aperture, of a reciprocating feed-bar for said drum whichis moved in one direction by the shutter, a stop, a locking-pawl mountedonsaid feed-bar and adapted to encounter said stop, a series ofvoting-keys having devices for locking the same, and a stop-barcontrolling said locking devices and having a projection arranged to beengaged by said feed-bar and another projection which isarranged toengage with said locking-paw l, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with a voting booth or compartment having a swingingexit-door, of a voting-maehine arranged in the booth and having aresetting device, amovable hook arranged on the wall of the boothadjacent to the hinged edge of the door, and connected with theresetting device of the voting-machine, and a movable catch mounted onthe door and adapted to interlock with said movable hook, substantiallyas set forth.

18. The combination with a voting booth or compartment having a swingingexit-door, of a voting-machine arranged in the booth and having aresetting device, a movable hook arranged on the wall of the boothadjacent to the hinged edge of the door and connected with the resettingdevice of the voting-machine, a movable catch mounted on the door andadapted to interlock with said movable hook, and acam arranged todisengage said catch from said hook after the latter has been movedsufficiently to operate the resetting device, substantially as setforth.

19. The combination with a voting booth or compartment having a swingingexit-door, of a voting-machine arranged in the booth and having aresetting device, a horizontally-sliding hook arranged on the wall ofthe booth adjacent to the hinged edge of the door and connected withsaid resetting device, a horizontally-swinging catch or lever pivoted tothe door, adapted to interlock with said hook and having a releasing pinor projection, a spring which holds said catch in its operativeposition, and a stationary cam which is arranged adjacent to saidslit-ling hook and over which the releasing-pin ofi'the catch rides whenthe door is opened, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination with two or more groups or classes of keys and astop-bar for each of said groups, of a main sliding lockingbar arrangedto move across the ends of said stop-bars, and operating to lock thestop bar or bars of one class of keys and to leave the stop bar or barsof the other class of keys unlocked, and an auxiliary locking-bararranged to shift said main locking-bar and operating to lock the'stop-bars not locked by said main bar, substantially as set forth.

ICC

21. The combination with two or more groups or classes of keys and astop-bar for each of said groups, of a main locking-bar ar-- ranged tomove across the ends of said stop- 5 bars, and operating to lock thestop bar or bars of one class of keys and to leave the stop I bar orbars of the other class of keys unlocked, and a sliding auxiliarylocking-bar operating against one end of said main locking-bar and xoadapted to lock the stop-bars not locked by said main locking-bar, and arock-shaft having an arm or tumbler which shifts said auxiliary slide,substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 31st day of August, 1898.

MARQUIS H. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES CAMPSALL, CARL F. GEYER.

